Rhodes nearing Rovers return

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer hopes to include Jordan Rhodes in his squad for Friday night's match against Bolton Wanderers.

The striker has missed the last two league games with an ankle injury picked up a fortnight ago in the draw at Huddersfield Town, but he is close to a first team return against the Trotters at Ewood.

Rovers will also have Jason Lowe and Adam Henley available after the pair missed the Brighton game through illness, leaving just Chris Taylor and Chris Brown absent for the first Lancashire derby of the season.

"We are going to give Jordan Rhodes as long as possible," said Bowyer on Thursday.

"He has made inroads this week, the lad is desperate to get back and is working ever so hard.

"It has taken a little bit longer than what we had hoped, but at the same time it could have been a lot worse as he could have been out for months such was the challenge."

Bowyer believes Rhodes has been given added impetus to make a swift return after seeing the amount of chances the team has created in his absence.

Both matches have seen the team create a host of opportunities, but Rovers only had a point to show for their efforts.

"Knowing Jordan as we do, with the number of chances we've created in the last two games he'll be even more desperate to get back playing," added the Rovers boss.

"To have had him on the end of those chances we created, I know he'd be backing himself to have scored quite a few of them.

"He is prolific and it makes a massive difference to our team, I think that has been the motivation to get fit, the number of chances that we have been creating - he could quite easily have got six goals."

Tickets for Friday's game against Bolton are on open sale until the 7.45pm kick-off. Priced from £22 for Adults, £14 Seniors, from £14 for 18-21 year-olds and from £9 for Juniors aged 17 and under.

Why not book online today at www.eticketing.co.uk/onerovers and collect your tickets from the Roverstore collection on the night of the game.